Chapter 3

The Chow family's high-society gala was packed with elites. Naturally, Chloe and I were on the guest list.

"Harper, you're here! Didn't you say you weren't coming? Why didn't you let me pick you up?" Brandon Chow looked slightly surprised to see me. The woman chatting flirtatiously with him rolled her eyes at me and slinked away.

Brandon reached out to stroke my hair, but I dodged smoothly, pulling Lingling forward. "This is my... cousin, Lingling."

Then, I introduced Brandon to her. "This is my fiancé, Brandon. He's the sole heir to the Chow Group."

The moment Lingling heard he was my fiancé, her eyes lit up like fireworks. When she heard he was the sole heir, pure, predatory ambition flashed across her gaze.

I touched my stomach lightly. "My stomach hurts a bit. Sweetheart, why don't you show Lingling around?"

Brandon was an aristocratic gentleman on the surface; he couldn't refuse an escort duty for a young lady.

Once they walked off, Chloe frowned deeply at me. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you pushing Brandon toward her?"

I'd always known Chloe harbored feelings for Brandon. Since Brandon and I were already engaged, I chose to play dumb. Chloe had maintained her distance, making excuses to leave whenever he was around.

"Let me warn you," Chloe snapped, "don't play smart only to lose your fiancé in the end."

I arched an eyebrow. "Do you really think Brandon could be seduced by someone like Lingling?"

She choked on her words, puffing up in frustration before sitting down on a nearby lounge chair.

Brandon returned soon enough, frustration etched across his features.

On the drive back, Brandon insisted on driving me home.

Lingling hovered by his car, waiting to hop in, but Chloe yanked her back. "The happy couple wants their privacy. What are you doing, third-wheeling?"

Lingling glanced back at Brandon, biting her trembling lip, playing the fragile victim as Chloe dragged her away.

Brandon, however, wasn't buying any of it. Throughout the drive, he kept stealing glances at me, hesitating.

"Say whatever's on your mind," I said.

"Harper, could you please not make me babysit your cousin again?"

I feigned surprise. "Why? Don't you love chatting with pretty girls?"

He leaned his head against my shoulder. "That's strictly business networking! My heart belongs only to you. Besides, you should watch your back around that cousin of yours."

Well, well. How fascinating. He actually had the nerve to say that.

He added, "That girl is far more scheming than you think."

I nodded. "Got it. Thanks."

Lingling stayed quiet for a few days, though she constantly clashed with Chloe. The two erupted into arguments every time they crossed paths.

"You really think being the daughter of a home-wrecking mistress makes you respectable? Daring to call yourself a Sue family daughter? Do you know why this is the Sue residence and not the Chen residence?"

Richard wasn't home today. The moment I walked downstairs, I caught the two glaring at each other like fighting roosters in the living room.

"So what? Everything here will belong to me soon anyway..."

"Ahhh!!!"

My footsteps froze. Chloe's eyes went wide. Out of nowhere, Martha had marched in carrying a bucket of cold water, dousing Lingling from head to toe, leaving her utterly soaked.

"What is going on here?!"

Right on cue, Richard walked through the front door. He rushed over, staring at Lingling with pure heartbreak. "Is this how you bully your sister the moment I step out of the house?!"

Chloe didn't flinch before his rage. "I don't have a sister like this—"

SLAP!

Before Chloe could finish her sentence, Richard struck her hard across the face.

I darted over instantly, pulling Chloe behind me. "Dad, don't you think hitting her without even asking what happened is crossing the line?"

He pointed a shaking finger at Lingling. "Look at what you two did to your sister!"

Chloe stood her ground, stubborn as ever. "I don't have a sister."

"You little—!"

Richard raised his hand to strike again. I stood right in front of Chloe, staring him dead in the eye. He hesitated, slowly dropping his hand.

Martha finally chimed in, "Miss Chloe didn't do anything. It was me. I threw the water."

Richard paused for a second, then let out a chilling sneer. "Don't you think I know whose orders you take around here?"